Closed door
locked
dark
empty
Voices rising from the room upstairs
I'm curled up in a ball unable to move
because of the marks all over my body
and the paralyzing fear inside
and the ceiling is spinning
I'm trapped
crying and hiding

How long has it been?
Three?
Four?
Six?
Ten?
I don't even know anymore
and my eyelids are heavy
Mother and Father
please, be kinder
don't shut the door again and lock it

Knives that are sharp
please, be nicer
don't tarnish my skin any longer